16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg spoke before the United Nations today at the 2019 Climate Action Summit. Her passionate plea for action and condemnation of capitalism has been widely shared on social media and the hot takes have been as opposite as reactions can possibly be. There may be many perspectives about the nuances of her speech, the scientific claims she makes, or the general topic of climate change itself, but there are only really two camps on how to view Thunberg herself.
These camps were broken down nicely by Princeton Professor Robert P. George:
There will now be two kinds of people: Those who find what they watch on this video deeply moving and who regard Greta Thunberg as a prophet and perhaps a saint, and those who are outraged by what they regard as the indoctrination, manipulation, and exploitation of a child. https://t.co/u7uf0jTfDE
— Robert P. George (@McCormickProf) September 23, 2019
George’s assertion is playing out perfectly on social media as the heated debates about Thunberg as a person, a child, and an activist seem to head in one direction or the other. Climate change activists are enthroning her as the hope their movement needs. She;s the new child-leader who represents a generation that has the most at stake since many activists will be gone while Thunberg is left “fighting the good fight.” Climate change skeptics see a girl who is being used by people as a political prop, a well-spoken and likable pawn to help them push their radical agenda.
The ironic part is both perspectives are currently correct. Thunberg really is the near-future of the climate change movement, and being enthroned creates a self-fulfilling prophecy in which she will lead because the people are desperate to follow her. Simultaneously, her ascension to this level of reverence is a sad testament against the religious zealotry of the climate change movement that seems to have found the artificially inflated messiah they’ve been seeking.
Here’s the video of Thunberg’s speech:
Here are some responses from both sides of the aisle:
A bunch of people in the Greta tag are vowing not to bring any new children into the world because the "earth is drowning and burning." Do people actually believe this?
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 23, 2019
Greta Thunberg is one of the greatest people on this planet. She’s 16 years old and she’s done more for the planet this year, than world leaders have, for the past 20 years. I truly believe she’s capable of saving our planet, or at least start the saving of it. Thank you Greta pic.twitter.com/4si4w4PFRL
— ℝ???? ?????? ??ℕ | ?ℙ?? (@troiansbiscuit) September 23, 2019
The world is Greta Thunberg rn. pic.twitter.com/G9A7cNZe0v
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) September 23, 2019
The left loves their kids don’t they? Greta gets trotted out as a climate expert. Hogg is the leading voice for gun control. Desmond is still getting ones shoved in his panties. All the rest are trying on vagina costumes.
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) September 23, 2019
When I grow up I want to be Greta Thunberg.
— Jennifer Wright (@JenAshleyWright) September 23, 2019
The left says we can’t criticize kids like David Hogg & Greta Thunberg who are used as political pawns to push globalist agendas.
But it’s perfectly fine for them to attack the Covington students or 9 year olds like Mini-AOC for supporting our President.
These people are sick.
— Educating Liberals (@Education4Libs) September 23, 2019
"Change is coming whether you like it or not." Greta is my hero. ???? https://t.co/scVLtGgtrE
— Pr. Moriarty ? (@Dorianpoetess) September 23, 2019
If the Left stops having children for the environment, where are they going to get new propaganda poster kids when David Hogg and Greta Thunberg grow up?
— Ashley StClair ?? (@stclairashley) September 23, 2019
If Greta Thunberg doesn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize, my tweets aren’t going to be very peaceful!!!
And that’s a threat!
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) September 23, 2019
It worries me that very few of my fellow liberals(who accept the general urgency of her message) don’t see here a 16yr old girl having a public emotional breakdown. Children are not our political mascots. Dear @GretaThunberg pls take a rest ❤️ Here’s why—> https://t.co/T5V2y2zLZP https://t.co/GOiJcT4lS7
— أبو عمّار (@MaajidNawaz) September 23, 2019
Can I file a human rights complaint with the United Nations against organizations using children as political props? https://t.co/hIF0o0k2iV
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) September 23, 2019
One day, #GretaThunberg will realize that she is a victim of child abuse, not climate change.
I genuinely find the video circulating of her to be sad.
The Left is stooping to new lows with this blatant example of child exploitation.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 23, 2019
Climate change activists have the superhero they’ve always wanted and skeptics have further proof of the indoctrination of children into a radical ideology. Greta Thunberg is effectively proving everyone’s point for them.
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